Wonder, Stevie: Talking Book (Vinyl LP)

1972 was the year in which the creative surge of Stevie Wonder became truly unstoppable. He had been raising the bar of his artistic imagination for some time, with the albums Where I’m Coming From and Music Of My Mind, before he unveiled what many consider to be his first masterpiece, Talking Book, on October 26.

Stevie’s awareness of the power of communication even led him to have the LP title, and some of the liner notes, displayed in Braille. The album, which like Music Of My Mind was co-produced by Stevie with his redoubtable team of Bob Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil, appeared at the same time as its stunning first single “Superstition.” Staggeringly accomplished for an artist who was still only 22, the track was also irresistibly funky, featuring brilliant horns and the innovative use of both a Hohner Clavinet and a Moog synthesiser, as well as an appearance by British guitar hero Jeff Beck.

Other highlights of a truly memorable LP included the moving ballads “You And I,” “Blame It On The Sun,” and the uplifting closer, “I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever).” None of those, nor “Tuesday Heartbreak,” “You’ve Got It Bad Girl,” or any of the album’s other gems, became singles for Wonder, but were covered by all and sundry as his modern-day reputation grew, and Talking Book climbed to No.3 on the US chart. The former 12-year-old genius was now an adult genius.

1. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
2. Maybe Your Baby
3. You And I
4. Tuesday Heartbreak
5. You've Got It Bad Girl
6. Superstition
7. Big Brother
8. Blame It On The Sun
9. Lookin' For Another Pure Love
10. I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)